Swift action urged after Yunnan quake

Premier Li Keqiang walks with rescuers as he visits the earthquake-hit Longtoushan township of Ludian county, Yunnan province August 4, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

The central government has allocated 600 million yuan ($97 million) for rescue efforts and more than 5,250 armed police officers and over 1,700 reserve forces have arrived at the county.

By Monday, 472 people had received medical treatment and 6,566 had been given shelter, the Ministry of National Defense said.

Provincial firefighters saved 32 residents on Monday, found 43 bodies and moved more than 1,800 residents to safer areas.

Zhang Li, who coordinates firefighters from Kunming, the provincial capital, said, "We called out more than 1,000 rescuers and 151 rescue vehicles across the province after the quake occurred."

The firefighters have been divided into three teams and sent to Ludian, Qiaojia and Huize counties, Zhang said.

Some rescue equipment, including cranes, could not be sent to the disaster area because of heavy traffic, he said, adding that the small number of firefighting teams need support from soldiers.

Some relief materials have been sent to seriously affected areas, including 20,000 tents, 30,000 quilts and 25,000 coats, the provincial civil affairs authority said.

Cao Yin and Zheng Jinran in Beijing contributed to this story.

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